Meet the KPI Mining Team:
Laura Carelos Andrade
Hi! I’m Laura Carelos Andrade, Mine Planning Consultant at KPI Mining. I’m originally from Brazil and studied Mining Engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais before completing my M.Sc. at McGill University, where I focused on stochastic mine planning and geostatistics. During my time at McGill’s COSMO Lab, I met the KPI team—Matheus was a colleague, and Benny saw one of my presentations during a technical day. That connection eventually led me here.
At KPI, I manage projects that help mining companies factor geological risk into their planning through stochastic optimization. I also provide training and support to help teams adopt new methodologies.
Outside of work, I’ve been dancing ballet since I was five and love exploring other styles too—jazz, contemporary, urban, and traditional Brazilian dances. Performing is a big part of who I am (yes, I once ate a rose on stage), and when I’m not dancing, I’m probably out trying a new restaurant with my husband.
What’s a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of, and why?
One personal project I’m especially proud of is completing my Master’s degree. It was a “long and winding road”, but I finished with much deeper knowledge and a broader perspective than when I started.
At KPI, the project I’m most proud of is a work for gold mining complex. We explored the advantages of stochastic mine planning and took it a step further by demonstrating how it can help in resource classification. This work gained significant recognition. The client presented the project at several conferences, and it sparked great interest and discussions among the audiences.
Can you share a major milestone or challenge you’ve overcome in your career?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career has been working in such a male-dominated industry. Since university, I was either the only woman in the room or one of very few. That made it hard to find support or mentorship from other women, simply because there weren’t many around. It also pushed me to build confidence in my own voice and find mentors and allies wherever I could. It taught me a lot about resilience and how important it is to create space for others coming up behind you.
What do you enjoy most about working in the mining industry?
I enjoy the complexity of mining. It’s such a large-scale operation that brings together people with expertise in many different areas, along with a wide range of machines, technologies, and studies to make everything work. What makes it even more fascinating is its deep connection to earth sciences—predicting nature’s behavior is never easy, and that challenge is exactly what makes it so interesting to me.
Share the aspects of your job or the industry that keep you passionate.
I work with an innovative tool, and one of the biggest challenges is convincing people that innovation can lead to positive change. It’s not always easy, but my role gives me the opportunity to listen to different perspectives and engage in meaningful discussions. It pushes me to think outside the box, which makes my day-to-day work dynamic and intellectually stimulating.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in mining over the next few years?
The greatest opportunities for innovation in mining lie in advancing orebody knowledge. As Earth’s accessible mineral resources become scarcer, it’s critical that we manage what we have with care and precision. This means developing more efficient ways to collect, store, and evaluate geological data—and ensuring that this information is consistently used across all areas of the operation. Particularly, we need to strengthen the integration of orebody data in geological modeling, geostatistics, geometallurgy, and mine planning. A seamless flow of accurate, high-quality information between these domains is essential for effective decision-making.
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation will play a central role in achieving this. These technologies can enhance data processing, improve prediction accuracy, and ultimately lead to smarter, more adaptive mining strategies.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in mining?
My advice to someone starting their career in mining is to first take the time to learn from others. There’s a lot of valuable experience and knowledge in the field, and listening to more experienced colleagues can give you a strong foundation. But it’s just as important to take ownership of your own learning: read, study, ask questions, and dig deeper into what you don’t understand.
Don’t assume that things should be done a certain way just because that’s how they’ve always been done. Be curious, challenge existing processes, and think critically. The industry needs fresh perspectives, and innovation often starts when someone dares to question the status quo and proposes a better way.
What’s a surprising fact about mining that most people don’t know?
One surprising thing about mining is that it’s everywhere—but almost invisible. Most people never see a mine in their life, but they use mined materials every single day. From toothpaste to bicycles, from solar panels to medical devices. If it wasn’t grown, it was mined.
If you could switch roles with anyone in your company for a day, who would it be and why?
If I could switch roles with anyone in my company for a day, I’d pick our president, Benny. Just imagine getting a sneak peek at all the big decisions, fancy meetings, and of course, using a 55-inch TV as a second/third screen! It’d be a great chance to see how the company’s vision comes together and maybe bring back some insider tips to make my own job even better.
If you weren’t in mining, what career path do you think you’d pursue?
If I weren’t working in mining, I would pursue a career in education. I’m fascinated by how people learn throughout their lives from early childhood to adulthood. Everyone learns differently, and I’m deeply interested in exploring techniques that make the learning process smoother, more respectful, and adaptable to diverse needs. For me, education is not just about helping people reach their full potential or getting a full A transcript, it’s about ensuring dignity in the learning process and providing equal opportunities for everyone to learn and grow.
Connect with Laura on LinkedIn